Pull back curtain on old Hollywood

Saturday

Jul 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM

Review of DVD

Will Pfeifer

In GO Tuesday, I reviewed Billy Wilder’s brilliant, bitter 1951 drama "Ace in the Hole." Today, I’m recommending the movie Wilder directed the year before, "Sunset Blvd." It’s a little less bitter, but even more brilliant.

"Sunset Blvd." is the story of a faded silent film star who pressures a young, desperate writer to pen her comeback movie — and pressures him into an increasingly creepy relationship. The fact that the silent star is played by Gloria Swanson, an actual former movie star, adds to the strange power of "Sunset Blvd."

Funny, tragic, suspenseful and touching, this is one of the best movies ever made about the strange process of making movies. It also stars William Holden, silent film director Erich Von Stroheim and "Dragnet" star Jack Webb. But make no mistake — this is Swanson’s movie, and she delivers a classic performance.

The excellent DVD includes making-of features, outtakes from the unused opening and more.

Will Pfeifer writes about older DVDs on Sundays and new ones on Tuesdays. Contact him at 815-987-1244 or wpfeifer@rrstar.com.

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